71st Annual Mother Goose Parade

The largest parade in San Diego County is also the largest of its type west of the Mississippi. Each year, the Mother Goose Parade attracts thousands of spectators to the streets of El Cajon. More than 100 colorful and exciting parade entries come from around the United States to share in the excitement that is the Mother Goose Parade.

Encinitas Fall Festival

With 450+ booths, plus dozens of unique downtown retailers, the Encinitas Fall Festival is a perfect opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Enjoy the music of popular local bands in The Lumberyard Courtyard and dance, music and other entertainment on the Community Stage next to Ace Hardware. Take your young ones to the Kids Zone for a variety of fun activities. And walk your furry friends into Dog Zone for some treats and special attention.

This last weekend of October, there’s much to do that’s Halloween-themed, but there’s also other great events planned in San Diego County. See them all below!

Home Shows USA

Get everything for your home under one roof, including products and services, from remodeling and décor to landscaping and more. Get inspired and get information to get started on that home improvement item you’ve been wanting to do.

Celtic Choral Celebration

The Center Chorale performs its first concert of the 2017-2018 season Friday night at the Center Theater at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The show will focus on the tunes of Scotland and Ireland, couple with bagpipes and Highland dancing. The 50-voice ensemble will be accompanied by pianist Dr. Joseph Valent and conductor Dr. Joe Stanford, a professor emeritus from Palomar College.

San Diego Botanic Garden Family Fall Festival

Enjoy live, kid-friendly entertainment and fall-themed activities including pumpkin decorating, pony rides, a petting zoo and Fall arts and crafts. KIDS: Be sure not to miss our Costume Contest! (no adults in costume please). And get your photo taken with the Big Pumpkin.

Boulevard Boo Parade

San Diego’s only Halloween parade, the 13th annual Boulevard Boo Parade returns to El Cajon Boulevard with ghoulish floats, vintage cars, costumes, bands and spooky surprises. The free parade starts at the intersection of El Cajon and Rolando boulevards then travels west to 60th Street. Visitors can view the procession from the south side of El Cajon Boulevard. After the parade, the College Avenue Baptist Church (4747 College Ave.) will host the free AfterBOO! Carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring rides, games, inflatable play structures, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors and live music.

Halloween Family Day

The free 9th annual Balboa Park Halloween Family Day gives families a safe, fun, and culturally inspired way to kick off their Halloween activities.

Over two dozen participating museums and cultural attractions will present free craft projects for kids, costume parades and contests, and other spooky surprises from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participating museums offer free admission to children 12 and under with paying adult.

Now that it’s October, there’s several fall-themed events and activities to partake in this weekend! Come to San Diego County to have fun with the family!

Sixth Annual HauntFest On Main

The event features live music on two stages featuring: Costume contests on the Main St. Stage; an expanded carnival rides and games; car show; candy challenge activities; kidz zone, face painting; performances by TNT Dancers, Arts In Motion Crew & Jr. Crew, and St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center Pumpkin Patch; craft and game booths; LED rock wall; inflatables for kids; “Ghostbusters” movies outdoors and more!

Augmented And Virtual Reality Festival

Explore the future at the Fleet’s Augmented and Virtual Reality Festival. Visitors of all ages will have a chance to explore the AR and VR technologies that are currently being used for education, medical science and more. Activities free with paid admission.

Wine and Dine: BLVD Market

Join the monthly BLVD Market to celebrate local, sustainable seafood and San Diego’s best urban wineries for an unforgettable pairing night with a whole fish butchery demo by Heart & Trotter as well as salsa and bachata to dance the night away!

San Diego Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale

Plant donations from over 100 local growers, wholesalers, retail nurseries and individuals make this one of the most interesting and diverse plant sales of San Diego County. Since all of our plants are donated, we can offer HUGE savings – up to 40 or 50 percent off what you would see at other places!

Borrego Days

Don’t miss the 52nd annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, a nice weekend getaway for families this fall. The free festival runs Saturday and Sunday. You’ll get a chance to enjoy beautiful weather, desert blooms, star gazing and more – and that’s on top of a parade through town, rows and rows of unique booths, handmade goods, beautiful artwork, delicious food and more.

Celebrate summer with some wonderful activities this weekend in San Diego County. Concerts, family activities, festivals, cultural events and so much more is going on this Friday – Sunday!

Mass Creativity Day 2017

Make, share and create art during Mass Creativity Day, a free outdoor arts festival at The New Children’s Museum. Bring the whole family out for a day full of art-making activities, free Museum admission, music, food and more!

2017 Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival

Join more than 70,000 visitors for the 38th annual oceanfront chili cook-off in Ocean Beach. Live stages of continuous live music and entertainment, the community mural project, Artists Alley, carnival rides and games, food and vendor booths, a beachside beer garden and more.

44th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games

Scottish culture will fill the park during the two day festival, which will feature a variety of activities and entertainment for guests of all ages: Sheepdog trials, Highland dancing, Scottish vendors, cuisine and beverages, bagpipe and drumming competitions, clan heritage tents, and hands-on children’s activities.

12th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am

BRO-AM Beach Fest is an annual celebration that gives back to the San Diego Community. Surf contests, free concert, numerous vendor booths… all to celebrate community and to raise awareness and funds for local youth organizations.

When: Ongoing from now until October 28, 2017Where: Parks and recreation centers throughout San Diego CountyCost: FreeMore information: Summer Movies in the Park; schedule here

Taste of Adams Avenue

Nearly 50 restaurants, breweries, wine bars, coffee houses and other eateries in University Heights, Normal Heights, and Kensington will showcase their best meals, sips, and snacks. Take a stroll along Adams Avenue by foot, bike or trolley and get a taste of the neighborhood. Tickets start at $35.

What a beautiful weekend coming up! Enjoy the lovely weather and San Diego County area with these great family activities and fun events! And if these aren’t enough events, check out my list of the top 20 must-do activities to do in San Diego here!

Salsa Under the Stars

Dance the night away with Manny Cepeda and his orchestra in the Headquarters at Seaport’s beautiful out door courtyard from 6 pm – 9 pm. No partner or experience necessary for this free event.

2017 How-to Festival

Come learn “how-to” do something new and interesting in quick workshops taught by volunteers from your neighborhood. This interactive community educational event has something for everyone. All ages welcome.

The Belly Up is lining up a great list of musicians to perform over the two day event, which includes local community talent. There will also be a large, fun and exciting Children’s Area set up for families to enjoy rides, games and a climbing wall.

Tierrafest Parade and Craft Fair

Come and visit our all-day Craft Fair (9am to 3pm), offering lots of handmade items by local artisans. The day starts with a Patriot’s Day Parade at 10am, with schools, clubs, bands, businesses and local dignitaries marching or riding, and the day ends with a barbeque dinner (4-8pm) at the Tierrasanta Rec Center together with a fireworks display at dusk. The Craft Fair and Parade are free, and children are welcome. Tickets for the dinner are available at the Craft Fair.

24th Southern California Band Festival

The 24th Southern California Band Festival is being held May 20 and 21, 2017 at Old Poway Park. The festival presents 17 adult concert bands from Southern California and Arizona with a new band every hour. The festivities conclude with the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band starting at 6:15 Sunday. Food and beverages are available. Gift baskets will be auctioned off.

Grand Ave Festival

The Grand Ave Festival, Escondido, takes place in our historic downtown on Grand Ave from Center City to Juniper. Shop from hundreds of vendors for unique hand-crafted gifts and imports, enjoy international cuisine and local entertainment from high school performing arts and future stars.

On this beautiful spring weekend, there are lots of things to do in and around San Diego — both in and outside! While there’s a whole list of great activities and events in San Diego County listed, the top ones include: the musical Adams Avenue Unplugged, La Mesa’s physics event, and Encinitas’ street fair. But check them all out below!

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

The famous Flower Fields in Carlsbad Ranch officially opened for the season on March 1; the fields are open daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through May 14. Patrons will enjoy nearly 50 acres of colorful displays of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, which are in bloom for six to eight weeks. The famous fields also include roses, orchids, sweet pea blossoms, petunias and poinsettias.

Mission Federal ArtWalk

The 33rd annual Mission Federal ArtWalk returns to Little Italy in San Diego this weekend. Stroll over 15 blocks filled with artwork from over 350 local, national, and international artists on Saturday. The weekend-long event is recognized as one of San Diego’s premier arts and cultural event and the largest fine art festival in Southern California. The free family-friendly event also features live music, street food, interactive art activities and KidsWalk.

Spring Butterfly And Garden Festival

A family-friendly event at Cuyamaca College and The Water Conservation Garden featuring the Ornamental Horticulture department’s biggest plant sale of the year, and exhibitors and vendors with garden-related information and merchandise.

The Garden will be hosting tours of the butterfly pavilion and feature kids activities, butterfly release, storytime and more.

Encinitas Spring Street Fair

Down six blocks of the scenic South Coast Highway 101, the Encinitas Spring Street Fair features international food, children’s rides, four live stages and the craft brewery beer garden guarantee that there will be fun for the whole family.

San Diego Rose Show

The San Diego Rose Show at the McMillin Event Center (2875 Dewey Rd.) at Liberty Station. The show, presented by the San Diego Rose Society, invites amateurs to showcase their roses in the exhibit hall to be admired by judges and attendees. Local rosarians will be on-hand to share tips on how to select and grow the best roses, depending on where your garden grows.

Chocolate Festival

At the Chocolate Festival, learn about the history of chocolate and how it came to the U.S.; browse and taste a variety of chocolate from more than a dozen local vendors. Make your own chocolate pizza; for adults, there will be a wine and chocolate or beer and chocolate pairings, plus live baking and cooking demonstrations.

This weekend in San Diego holds quite the variety of activities; enjoy: gardens, fairs and parades, festivals, music, food, films, and more.

Sculpture in the Garden

San Diego Botanic Garden is featuring local artists through the end of this month. ArtFest at the Garden features some of the finest regional artists displaying their talents with the beautiful San Diego Botanic Garden as a back drop. You can take a self-guided tour of the sculptures.

When: Until the end of April 2017Where: San Diego Botanic Garden | 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 92024Cost: Included with admission to the gardens | $14 for adults, $10 for seniors, students and active military and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Kids 2 and under get in free. On-site parking is $2.More information: www.sdbgarden.org/sculpture

32nd Annual Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair And Parade

The 2017 Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair and Parade’s theme in 2017 will be focused on Healthy Communities — emphasizing the health resources available to Linda Vista and San Diego. Numerous cultural exhibits, varied ethnic food offerings and artistic performances are will be offered.

San Diego Guitar Festival

Back for its second year, the San Diego Guitar Festival is proud to present award-winning guitarists, including Grammy-winners David Russell and Paul O’Dette. The San Diego Guitar Festival has once again partnered with Museum of Making Music Carlsbad for the unique “Classic Strings & Modern Brew.” The very best of the classical guitar world meets the very best San Diego brewers –Stone Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewing Company and Bagby Beer Company– in a unique concert, beer-tasting experience not to be missed.

Masterclasses, lecture and workshop are free and open to the public. The schedule is available here.

27th annual Multicultural Earth Day

A free festival with music and dance and food and libations and performers. The “World’s Largest Seed Exchange,” heirloom plant sale, activities designed for kids, and some 50 various vendors will be at the event in Balboa Park.

Fallbrook Avocado Festival

Celebrating its 31st year, the event draws up to 100,000 visitors and features all things avocado — from sweet and savory foods to avocado-related products. Special events include a guacamole contest, a “Little Miss” or “Little Mister” Avocado contest (ages 6-10), a Best Decorated Avocado contest and the Avo 500 children’s car race. There will be live music, a beer and margarita garden, children’s activities and the Artisan Walk on Alvarado Street, featuring more than 30 local artists.

25th Annual Oceanside Days of Art

TheOceanside Days of Art is a juried fine art festival featuring up to and sometimes over 100 local artists selling a variety of unique artwork including paintings, sculptures, glass, ceramics, fine jewelry, and photography — with live stage performances, children’s and adult’s hands on art activities, street chalk artist, painting and sculpture demonstrations, and a delicious variety of food.

December is full of holiday activities and events here in San Diego County — here are just a few of the things to do this weekend!

A Kimball Christmas & Holiday Celebration

National City’s 9th Annual “A Kimball Christmas and Holiday Celebration” at Kimball Park happens this weekend. This will be a weekend full of free, family, fun, including ice skating, community booths, community performances, special guest appearances, food and beverages for sale and more!

Garden of Lights

After the sun goes down in December, the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland! More than 125,000 sparkling lights illuminate the flora of this fantastic 37-acre urban oasis each evening from 5–9 p.m. for a magical holiday experience.

Parade of Lights

Festive lights illuminating the San Diego Bay can only mean one thing: the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is back – a holiday tradition upheld by the local boating community bulb for bulb, year after year. In its 45th year, the dazzling display of lights covering more than 80 boats can be seen from several prime locations along the waterfront route — from Shelter Island past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and Coronado’s Ferry Landing.

Grand Art Series: Holiday Mixer And Toy Drive

Join in the “Grand Art Series: Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive” on Friday, Dec 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Manchester Grand Hyatt’s Grand Lobby Bar. Bring a new, unwrapped, non-violent toy or gift card for free entrance to the event, and enjoy complimentary wine and 20 percent off the regular Grand Lobby Bar menu. Free parking with validation will be available for those attending, as well.

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